Yohe: The rise and fall of Dan Bylsma

June 12, 2014by Josh Yohe

Dan Bylsma entered the Penguins spotlight like a lion, but exited like a lamb. No coach in NHL history has made that kind of debut, I’m fairly certain. There was the 18-3-4 conclusion to the regular season in 2009 after he was named coach, the Stanley Cup run later that spring, then the 9-1 start to begin the next campaign. At that point, his record was 43-12-4. (That’s a 125-point pace over 82 games, and 24 of those games were against playoff competition. Wow.)

It wasn’t all downhill from there, but it’s fair to say that the Disco Dan Magic was never again captured by the team that felt like a dynasty, and looked like a dynasty, but really wasn’t a dynasty.

I learned a lot about Bylsma on my first road trip covering the Penguins. It was Oct. 10, 2009, and the Penguins were in Toronto on a Saturday night. Hockey Night in Canada at ACC. Showtime. And man, did those Penguins play the part. They beat the Leafs 5-2 that night to improve their record to 4-1.

Following the game, I had finished my article and stood outside of the Penguins locker room while the players made their way through the arena and to the team bus. The setup in Toronto is an interesting one, as fans from the luxury suite area are permitted to stand beside the locker rooms, giving them unparalleled access to the players. As you might imagine, the Penguins were receiving rock star treatment. Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Gonchar and Guerin were among the big names to walk by the fans. The players were all friendly, of course, offering smiles and acknowledgment. But they were in a hurry to reach the bus, so stopping for pictures and autographs wasn’t an option. It was, however, an option for their coach.

Bylsma not only acknowledged the fans, but stopped for 10 minutes to pose for pictures. I had two reactions while observing the scene. My first thought was, “This guy is cool. How many coaches would actually stop to hang out with fans like this?” My second reaction? “Man, this guy likes being famous.” I’m pretty sure I was right both times.

I like Bylsma. He was always friendly, always accommodating. And really, what wasn’t to like? He quickly became a star, just like the players he coached. At the time, it seemed he was the perfect coach for that team. From the second he arrived on the scene, he turned a good team into a great one. He showed the way. He was the answer. He was a coaching savant, always providing a unique philosophy and doing so in a likeable manner. So, it was quite impressive to see someone stop and take time to speak with fans, pose for pictures and appear so down to earth.

But maybe that team – and the ones that would follow – didn’t need a rock star as head coach. Maybe they needed someone who didn’t like the spotlight quite as much. Maybe someone who wasn’t distracted by the Olympics, and someone who was so loyal to a system that clearly possessed flaws.

Bylsma never really changed over the years. I ran into him during a tailgate party in the hours before the Pirates beat Cincinnati in the National League Wild Card game. He was posing for pictures with fans, socializing with anyone who wanted to meet the coach. Pretty cool. Not everyone in the public eye is so willing to interact with fans. There is, however, a problem with wanting to be liked, especially when you’re a head coach. His personality with fans mirrored his personality with his players. Eventually, I believe, hockey players will take advantage of such things. They’re generally good guys, but they’re human. Accountability begins to fade. And it did.

I don’t blame Bylsma for any of this, really. Imagine having the success he did in those first few months. You never would have changed a thing, either. No one would have. But that early success became a roadblock, ultimately creating bad habits. The 2009 team was special. Maybe the next few years could have produced special Penguins teams, also, but every team is different and requires adaptation. Bylsma never really changed, and his team never grew up.

If the Florida Panthers are smart, they will hire Dan Bylsma. Seriously. He is a good coach and he is particularly adept at taking a team with an adequate roster (think 2011 Penguins, with Crosby and Malkin injured) and making it a playoff team. That’s exactly what he’ll do in Ft. Lauderdale. It’s what would be best for Bylsma. He could grow as a coach there. In Florida, the community isn’t so interested in hockey. The Panthers don’t boast a galaxy of superstars. They aren’t looking to become a dynasty. They aren’t looking to paint the Mona Lisa, which always seemed to be Bylsma’s desire. In Florida, they’re just trying to win hockey games. Dan Bylsma know how to do that.

He just wasn’t the coach to produce that dynasty.

It’s funny. I still think about that night in Toronto a lot. It was my first ever night on the road covering the Penguins, so of course it will always be fresh in my mind. I remember watching Bylsma after the game that night, thinking he could never lose, that he really was a hockey genius, that he had it all figured out, that his Penguins would be the team of this generation.

Problem is, maybe he thought the same. It wasn’t really all downhill for Bylsma. He’s been wildly successful. His record speaks for itself. But it was time for a change, and the Sunshine State might be the perfect place for him to land.

What is really ironic about this whole situation, is how hypocritical this Penguins organization is. They fire a pretty good coach, because he never held any of his star players accountable. Yet they(the organization) don't hold the players responsible for the poor play and lack of focus, on the ice. You're paying the supposed "best player" in the world nearly 10 million dollars a year, and all he could muster is 1 goal, in the playoffs? You're paying your goalie 5 million a year, and he looked just as mediocre as any other goalie. With the Pens hiring of Mr Rutherford, and the way they've allowed Mr Rutherford to point out Disco's mistakes, in his first public interview, I've lost all respect for this organization. Practice what you preach, Mr Burkle & Mr Lemieux. Hold the players accountable for the past 5 years. Sid is no captain. Mr Toewes is a real captain. Mr Dustin Brown is a real captain. Mr Stamkos is a real captain. Mr Tavares is a real captain. What the Pens did to Mr Cy Clark, may he rest in peace, by throwing him out of the arena because he was holding up a "Regis" sign, was completely unclassy. Tell NBC to leave the building. Not a 40 yr Pens fan, who's supported your team. This Pens organization is the reason I'm not renewing my season tickets, and why I'm declaring the Flyers as my new team. I hope the Pens never win another championship for as long as I'm alive.

I agree with some of what you said, and flat out think you're crazy for other things you said. First, Fleury. Mediocre? Putting aside his playoff woes of the past couple of years, if you will. He has always been remarkable in the regular season. In these playoffs, he was 2.40/.915 - better than one of the two goaltenders in the SCF. Worth $5M? Maybe, maybe not. Compare him to other goaltenders in the lead with comparable skills and stats. Not too crazy when you look at him next to Cam Ward's cap hit, or Mike Smith's cap hit. It's pretty comparable. As far as Burkle/Lemieux not holding players accountable - I'd call telling Matt Cooke to shape up or get the hell out of the organization "holding players accountable" Next - what kind of sense does it make, business or otherwise, to tell a television company such as NBC to hit the bricks for one fan, and chance souring a multi-million dollar TV deal? I'm sure Mr. Clark would agree, God rest his soul.

Now, Sid. You say he isn't a captain. If I was the coach of any team in the NHL, there's nobody I would want more. He scores big goals. He reads and anticipates plays. He is fairly competent in his own end. He wins face offs. He can dictate the pace of a game. If there's an area of his game that needs improving, he obsesses over it. He might not be all rah rah in the locker room, but he has a big influence on his team. Use the pep talk he gave to Geno after Sochi as an example. Yes, he coughs up the puck. Yes, he loses his cool sometimes. Yes, he yaps at the refs too much (although I will point out, as captain, that's part of his job), and yes, he does whatever he can to give his team a chance to win. To question Sid's leadership shows you're really not paying attention much. I will give you this, though. He is not the same Sid he was pre-concussion. And yet he can still lead the league in scoring and be a Hart Finalist.

Come to think of it, I really didn't agree with anything you said. Sorry.

TIna, you have a lot going on in your comments. I think hockey more than most sports churns through coaches faster when a team underperforms. Personally, I think Bylsma should have been fired after last season. He is a good coach--in the regular season. I am sorry but his inability to adjust team tactics, lines, etc. in a playoff format is what doomed him in PGH.

No with the # 87 and the "C"? I think you are really on to something. It may seem like heresy to some Penguin fans but Crosby's on ice antics are not those of a captain. I cannot speak to what happens in the locker room and at practice but the 2009 Cup winners had guys like Guerin to help lead the way. Crosby needs some help or someone to show him how to lead. I believe Rutherford was addressing this in a roundabout way when he mentioned there was quiet leadership on the team.

Ned Ryerson It isn't so much that Sid isn't a captain as much as he has an attitude about being treated special( see very old article where his agent talks all about this), that conflicts with what it takes to be a captain. YES, Sid is absolutely the very most influential person on this team and "his" team ( as Geno stated at least 100 times) will follow him into the depth's of hell if need be ( ironically, with Geno being the exception). Whether it is because he is treated as a hockey king or because of his intention not to be treated as special causes him to be treated as special, or both, I don't know, but unless Sid is willing to embrace who he is, and that is something special, he has no business putting the C on his shirt. Yes, I just said that because it is that much of conflict. I been closely watching this schema play out on the ice for the past 3-4 years, very rarely missing a game, but can tell how the Pens are going to play based upon how Sid's attitude is on the ice. Usually, Kunitz mirrors this attitude, and acts as an indicator as well. This is why Duper was so important to that line, he is mature head that Sid respects and seems to even follow the lead of at times. Quite honestly, I believe the whole Olympics thing, then the play-off's, have taken their tool on Sid psychologically as he is conflicted with trying to not be any different than the next guy while being treated by the league, ref's, coaches, and opposing players as if he is the very most important and special guy in the hockey world. This mentalist is proven by his reaction to every team focusing on him, coming hard at him every night, throwing a tantrum as if to say "hey, give me a break, I am just like you and don't want the extra attention !". Sorry Sid, they don't and you will make a fool of them. So either pony up and take the bull by horns or get off horse and let somebody else take the spotlight who WANT's the special attention or at least can handle. That is reality and you are doing your fellow loyal team mates no justice pretending it otherwise.

Ned Ryerson the Corsi rating really matters. What matters is the wins/losses, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I don't care if you've won the gold medal, or scored 5000 points in a season. If you can't take your team into the Stanley Cup finals, then you're a bum.

Tina Lazarus That might be the dumbest comment EVER!!!! Considering the thesis you typed above it might actually be the 2nd dumbest.. You infer 87 is a bum for not taking a team to the finals but then criticize an organization for firing a coach who couldn't lead a team to the finals, lol.. That's logical.. Guess what? 1 or 2 players don't take an NHL team anywhere in the playoffs that's why it's a team sport... If you were a true Pens fan you should have known this from the many teams that 66 and 68 were on that 1 or 2 superstars doesn't guarantee a finals trip yearly. Every year it's the team who has 4 solid lines, plays selfless D, a coach who can adapt, solid goaltending, and gets some bounces that wins the cup.. The 2014 Pens had maybe 2 lines and played minimal D so they were done early.. Anyone who follows the NHL on a regular basis and expected the Pens to do anything special is either a homer or an idiot. You must be one of the fans who started to watch hockey in 2006 bc it's evident that you're lost. BTW it's Brandon Saad and Toews not Brendan and Toewes,, Also Crosby doesn't make almost $10 million he makes $12 million with an $8.7 annual cap hit.. Thankfully, you won't be renewing your tix bc it's the bandwagon fans like yourself who make me sell 20 games a year for a nice yearly profit. Your vast hockey knowledge went out the window when you tried claiming MAF had a mediocre playoff when he just had his second best playoff year of his career. LMFAO Ya tell NBC to leave bc God knows that will happen.. How do you know it wasn't NBC who tossed the super fan out? You don't.. How do you know that Pierre didn't ask for the super fan removal? You don't.... NBC and the NHL have a 10yr $2 billion contract that was signed in 2011 NBC isn't going anywhere.. Maybe you can make another fake Facebook account and pose as another chick..

Therrien lost the room. He couldn't coach this team anymore. I really doubt we would have done anything special if he stayed. On average, coaches don't stay around long with a team in the NHL for a reason.

Ryan Broadwater Actually big guy Crosby was one of the few in that room who actually liked Therrien hence why those two were in contact while Therrien still resided in Pgh for a year or 2 after his firing. Nobody hated Therrien more on that team than Staal, and Orpik.. This made Orpik's renewal in 2008 interesting bc those two didn't get along one bit.. It's pretty funny how people from a far blame 87 for everything that goes wrong when they don't know what they're talking about...

Remember reading "coach lost the locker room"... Since when do men get lost?
Especially when they're paid tens of millions of dollars to play a sport? I can't agree with the scapegoating of the coach. It's the players who didn't produce on the ice.

I was shocked watching the Captain of the team give up on plays during the playoffs.... it may turn out that he is never back on the ice for a final series for the cup.

Interesting article. It's really interesting with Chuck Noll's passing and everything being said about him and how he did things. I guess it's a lot easier to talk the talk than walk the walk. I think it points out how difficult it is to succeed as a Coach in any sport. It's amazing how few people have the skill set to manage all the different aspects of creating a successful situation.

think 2011 Penguins, with Crosby and Malkin injured and making it a playoff team? Sorry I have to disagree.........The reason Injury transitions appeared so seamless is largely due to the fact that their AHL affiliates play the same system as the NHL team does. Because of this, no time is lost learning a system. Dan Bylsma will not enjoy that level of success in Florida or anywhere else Because very few teams operate like that IMHO. Great article otherwise.

Ahhhhhhhh your first time. Seems like a dream. Then you wake up embarrassed. Wonder why you did it. And want to start over. Hope the Pens new beau does a better job making them see stars again. Instead of self centered selfish duds. But ahhhhhhhhh...... your first time.

Josh very well spoken. And I think because of his personality the players took advantage of him. While he wasn't the best at making adjustments, no matter what the strategy players are paid to execute. That hasn't happened in the post season since 2009.

Ryan Broadwater Duhhh... It is a business.. At least they spend what they make.. Shero might not have spent wisely at times but the Pens will be a cap ceiling team until 87 and 71 retire.. Then when this bandwagon hockey town reverts back to the attendance figures of 2001-2004 after the 2 centers are done they will have to come up with a new strategy..